Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
VA Great Lakes Health Care System (VISN 12)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on October 14, 2011. Also cited in 130 other reports.
Report ID: SPE000000067708, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 12 Madison, WI
Issue:
A Resisted Nurse (RN) received a call from a friend of a patient had recently expired. RN told Patient A's friend that they had expired, and provided phone numbers of family members. Family is now upset that information was provided without authorization. The Privacy Officer was not notified until 4 days later. Update: 10/14/11:Policy violation, next of kin notification.
Outcome:
Clinical staff have been re-educated on appropriate verbal and written disclosure of patient and family member information including what constitutes legal authority/authorization for release of information.